San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-09-08


eyes sought Mr.. Gardens face, on which the
freight shOne. His gaze was oftener on
Mr.. Gascoigne than on the board, though
Mr.. GascOigne's was wholly centred ON the
play. There was a little smile lurking about
his mouth, seeming to say that he had ar
rived at the solution long ago.
Curious fancies began 10 fit through my
head, vague phantasmagOria 10 bewilder
me. Where was this strange problem set
which so concentrated their attention? How
strangely, these ivory cheSsmen engrossed
theml 1 struck the keys with holder fingers
to drown the voices, and chose piece which
demanded all my attention; but still fantas-
tic yet significant cOnjectures and cOnceits
haunted me. When at length Mr.. Garden
rose TO go, Mr.. GascOigne spoke to me.
will you please take that lamp, Miss
ThOrne, and light Mr.. Garden down the
stairsp'
II deeply regret to trouble you" said Mr..
Garden.
lmade no reply, but led the way.
You must find your duties at the Grange
rather trying, Miss ThOrne," he continued,
pausing at the door below. poor Mr.. Gas
cOigne is an odd gentleman, but he is most
kind at heart; and l know he values you
highly already"
wondered how Mr.. Garden learned that.
II have found him always kind to me-"
replied. And my duties are not difficult"
II hope that will induce you to stay long
er than your predecessors have done" he
said; and then he raised his hat and depart
ed.
Well" said Mr.. Gascoigne, "have you re-
pented your verdict on Mr.. Crawford Car
den?'
II have not found any reason to do So"
Ireplied.
Isn't he handsome?' he inquired. Ger
tainly," admitted.
Isn't he agreeable?' he asked.-"In man.
ner, yes" replied.
Then what Is the objection? Is its source
discovered yet?"
might have answered that l did not ap
prove the comments on himself passed by
Mr.. Garden.
81 cannot help feeling it," l said. "Win
you allow me in future, Mr.. GascOigne, to
retire when Mr.. Garden comes? Icannot do
anything for you while he is here"
us that request solely because OF your
prejudice against Mr. Garden, Miss ThorneY'
NO" replied, coloring hotly.
will you please tell me the other rea.
son?' he asked.
There was nothing for II but candOr.
II cannot help hearing what you and Mr..
Garden say. l cannot help surmising in
some way what you mean. And do not
want to know anything more than am
told"
You don't want to guess secrets, don't
yOu9 You're different from the rest of your
sex then. What have you discerned in our
chess-prOblemp'
81 do not think 1t is simply chess" said.
What else do you suppose it isP' he ask
ed.
Il could not help thinking, Mr.. Gascoigne,
that you were speaking Of real people, not
chessmen."
And the real people, you imagined, were
myself and my nephews and nieces" he in
quired.
Yes" replied
Very well, Miss Thorne. You are per.
fectly correct. Now, as to knowing more
than you are told, will satisfy that by tell.
ing you more than you know. have
nephew, a certain Gilbert, of whom you may
have heard, who ought to have been my
heir. But he never will be-yOu can be sure
of that! shall not leave him farthing,
nor his brother either; and | mean to check
UdIt Anu Win JlldJ III Wow llht W
go over my position, and see the condition
of my pieces, and how it is to be done. l
brought Miss Hilda here solely and special
ly to checkmate him, and mean her to do
it, though things are not very promising just
now. Oh, know more than | am told
and don't regret it, Miss ThOrne! | mean
to leave all my money to my neces, chiefly
to Hilda. Annis can't expect much ;can sheP
H., l. l.,n g..
her fortuneT'
NO" answered. 81 do not believe that
for herself she thinks or cares for fortune"
Very well. | say nothing till | know.
But, circumstanced as | am, what am | to
do? | know what Crawford Garden thinks ~
Mr.. GascOigne was jubilantly shrewd over
this as if it were Machiavelan stroke.
He thinks l am going 10 manage it with
my knight-that is, with him; but nothing
of the sort. No, no! He thinks he has the
game in his own hands; but Richard Gas
cOigne is not I'm his dOtage yet, although he
is an old man and cripple. While that's
in his head can make him useful; do you
see? can't watch the doings around me
myself, so | am obliged to get help. And
that help is Mr.. Crawford Garden. He's a
good player" said Mr.. GascOigne, relapsing
into metaphor, very skilful, and he tells
me good deal about the moves"
Can you trust what he tells you?' ask
ed boldly.
"Bind men are obliged to trust their
guides. Would not you trust him, IL you
were in my placer
"NO; would trust no one who undertook
the Office of an infOrmer Why not trust
your nieces instead of this man, Mr.. Gas
cOigne"
with what result? Are they always quite
frank with me? Are you certain they never
do what they think | should not approve,
and trust | shall never learn? Can you as
sure me of that Miss Thorne?"
was silent.
IF you ever find Carden-Or have reason
TO suspect him Of Il! king love to my niece
Hilda, let me know. tor it's nothing but her
money he would be after. lie made my will,
and he knows how the money is left But
the game is not over t. Do you think they
like Cardcn?'
Il am sure they do not"
$50 much the better 1t is a difficult thing,
my dear, to be an old man with lot Of
money who can't keep awatch on the board,
who is Obliged to play blindfOlded. 1t is
difficult enough, in any circumstances, to be
man with money"
81 always thought the puzzle was more in
getting than in spending IT."
tYOu are wrOnU Every one : first thought